Investors in People awards

A Bronze Award was achieved by North West Housing, while a Silver Award went to Ashlea Primary School. Gold Awards were presented to Du Pont and St Mary’s College.

The four were among 35 businesses across Northern Ireland celebrating receipt Investors in People awards.

Congratulating the recipients Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, said: “Your accomplishments indicate that your organisations are not just prepared to attain a certain standard but are willing to go beyond this. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills just last month released the latest findings from an employer evaluation on the impact of the IiP framework. Seventy-one percent of businesses reported achieving the business results expected and 23% reported higher than anticipated benefits. Northern Ireland employers also experienced a higher percentage increase in quality of products, productivity of the workforce, ability of staff to do their jobs, volume of sales and satisfaction amongst customers than counterparts in the rest of the UK.

“Recently, the approach to the delivery of Investors in People has changed, becoming even more targeted at transforming the performance of organisations. Its focus is on the benefits of working with the framework to help organisations develop, implement and evaluate their people management and development strategies. If you develop the skills of your employees, success will follow.”

Investors in People has long been acknowledged as the most successful framework for business improvement through people. It helps organisations of every size, sector and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance.

The approach to its delivery has recently changed, becoming more tailored to individual business needs, to help organisations develop, implement as well as evaluate their people management and development strategies.

The framework also provides stretch for all businesses, who can now work towards achieving the core Standard or the additional accreditation awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.